Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-09-12
MARY JAMES TRAVELS.
SHE WHITES FROM CHARMING PAL
LAMA, ITALY.
Trouble at Milan in Finding o Famous
Notwithstanding About Americans
Who Are Travelling Abroad-The Lakes
OF Jtaly-How Como Was Named.
Especial Correspondence.l

fALLANzA, Italy, Aug. Ia don't know
exactly the size of the ignorance ordinarily
wear, but am free to confess that until /
bought my ticket to this place never heard
of 1t. 1t is a charming place, too, surrounded
by history and beautiful scenery and summer
resorte,s, and sits so close to Lake Maggiore
that the foot of the street we live on hangs
over into the water. We came here to take
little breathing spell before getting into or
onto that diligence to ride sixty five miles
over the Alps, because beyond the Alps lies
Switzerland.
To recur to the subject of ignorance, we
had manifestation Of it in Milan, which
gives me the courage to acknowledge that
never heard of Pallanza till now. At our
hotel IN Milan, which was in sight of the
cathedral, found it necessary to ask one of
the English speaking men in the office the di-
rection to the other great attraction of the
city, to wit: ".rhe Last Supper" picture
familiar by copies to every Sunday school
scholar in America. So in All off hand, mat
ter Of course way said to him:
"Where is Leonardo da Vincis picture OF
The Last SUPERB"
"Memr said he, with twenty centime in
terest.
"Wheres Da Vinci's Last SUPERB" think
ing he hadn't understood me.
ada Vinci-Da Vincil' he repeated ques-
tioningly, as he scratched his head thought
fully.
"Yes," said l, "Da Vinci's Last Supper a
famous picture; don't you know where it isl"
mo mem, l never heard of it. Excuse me.
I'll call up the head waiter"
Then he called up the waiter, and as that
worthy gave me the proper direction he stood
by III very evident satisfaction that the hotel
was so we'll equipped for the benefit of its
guests, and with never sigh for his own Gull
pable ignorance.
BY the way, the English speaking walters,
or waiter, for there is often only one, with
which nearly every continental hotel is pro-
vided, are the most valuable men in the ell
tire establishment, and are superior to any Of
their class in America. They know nearly as
much as the prevalent American hotel clerk
thinks he knows, and when have said that.
what more comprehensive compliment can
pay Them! From railroad timetable to the
price of harpin they know every foot of
the way; and they are as conversant with an
art catalogue as with bill of fare. Every
one tongued American on the continent is
under obligations to these waters, and
CUES the walters are not sorry of it. Neither
are tho hotel propretors, for the guests pay
the salaries or words to that effect
My Last Supper" experience reminds me
of a story which l cannot vouch for as l can
my own. A rich American over here from
Chicago seeing the sights met a friend in Mi
Ian who had spent the winter in the city.
Very naturally, the friend made inquiries as
to what the visitor had taken in during his
urban and suburban rambles.
"Have you seen Da Vinci's Last Supperp u
he asked early in his catechsm.
"Well, no." replied the Chicagoan, regret
fully, II can't say that have You see. I've
been so COMPOUNDED busy chasing around after
nrt and that sort Of thing haven't had a
chance at meal of victuals except what I
got at the hotel. Ipresume he won't give an
other until next season, will hep
OF course, this kind of ignorance is excusa-
Die in man coming from away Off in Chi
| cago, but that a Mlunese hotel man shouldn't
know Da Vinci's Last Supper" is an unpar-
donable sin.
Dckey says shouldn't tell stories like that
| on Americans, even if they be true, for it
brings the nation into disrepute, but hold
| to the contrary and will proceed with another
The cemetery at Milan, which, by the way,
| is a very handsome one, Is called as in all
italian cities, "Campo Santo" t'Camp of the
Saints" Dickey says it means), and every
body who goes to Milan gets out to see it.
| The day we were there we met an American
| lady wearing diamond ring ON the outside
of her glove an very willing to talk with
out the fornalty of an introduction.
"What an outrageous spot this is" she
| said to me after q few questions of identif1.
| cation.
"Yes," said I, trying to think what UNI
| bra.eous meant and wondering il she signed
Boston" after her name on the register.
Beautiful" she continued; with the excep-
| ton of the one at Genoah, I think this the
| handsomest Sancho Panza in Italy"
concurred with great unanimity, and
turned away to prevent Dickey from choking
| to death on handkerchief she had stuffed
| into her mouth.
But this is hardly n narration of travel,
and right on the heels, too, of trip from
| Como to Pallanza, than which for DAYS
| journey there can be none more yariously
beautiful in all the realm of nature If
could transfer patch of this portion of Italy,
about 100 miles square, to some point in Penn
| sylvania, equs distant from New York and
| Philadelphia, and have the copyright secured
| for five years for excursion privileges, I'd
| have enough money at the expiration Of the
time to live like Pullman palace car porter
| We float through picture for the first
| twenty-five miles on Lake Como: then by
| rail far up the mountains to the clouds, and
down again to Lake Lugano; then by steamer
between the shadows Of the grim, gray
mountain past little villages sleeping by the
water side; thence rail again through gorges
where a tossing, tireless stream throws silver
lace OH every leaf and flower that dares to
| show its cOlOrs on the rocks and last wa